Veranilda eBook

Basil made a gesture of repugnance. ’Nay,
call her the daughter of Theodenantha.’

’As you will. In any case the granddaughter
of a king, and not likely to be quite forgotten by
the royal family of her own race. Another king’s
grandchild, Matasuntha, lives, as you know, at Byzantium,
and enjoys no little esteem at the Emperor’s
court; it is rumoured, indeed, that her husband Vitiges,
having died somewhere in battle, Matasuntha is to
wed a nephew of Justinian. This lady, I am told,
desires to know the daughter of Ebri—­nay,
then, of Theodenantha; of whom, it seems, a report
has reached her. A command of the Emperor has
come to Bessas that the maiden Veranilda, resident
at Cumae, be sent to Constantinople with all convenient
speed. And upon me, O Basil, lies the charge of
seeking her in her dwelling, and of conveying her
safely to Rome, where she will be guarded until—­’

‘Will be guarded!’ echoed Basil fiercely.
’Nay, by the holy Peter and Paul, that will
she not! You are my friend, Marcian, and I hold
you dear, but if you attempt to obey this order—­’

Hand on dagger, and eyes glaring, the young noble
had sprung to his feet. Marcian did not stir;
his head was slightly bent, and a sad smile hovered
about his lips.

‘O descendant of all the Anicii,’ he replied,
’O son of many consuls, remember the ancestral
dignity. Time enough to threaten when you detect
me in an unfriendly act. Did I play the traitor
to you at Cumae? With the Hun this command of
Justinian served you in good stead; Veranilda would
not otherwise have escaped so easily. Chorsoman,
fat-witted as he is, willingly believed that Veranilda
and Aurelia, and you yourself, were all in my net—­which
means the net of Bessas, whom he fears. Do you
also believe it, my good Basil?’

For answer Basil embraced his friend, and kissed him
on either cheek.

‘I know how this has come about,’ he said;
and thereupon related the story of the visit of Olybrius
to Aurelia six months ago. It seemed probable
that a report of Veranilda’s beauty had reached
Matasuntha, who wished to adorn her retinue with so
fair a remnant of the Amal race. How, he went
on to ask, would Marcian excuse himself at Rome for
his failure to perform this office?

‘Leave that to my ingenuity,’ was the
reply. ’Enough for you to dare defiance
of the Emperor’s will.’

Basil made a scornful gesture, which his friend noted
with the same melancholy smile.

‘You have no misgiving?’ said Marcian.
’Think who it is you brave. Imperator Caesar
Flavius Justinianus—­Africanus, Gothicus,
Germanicus, Vandalicus, and I know not what else—­Pius,
Felix, Inclytus, Victor ac Triumphator, Semper Augustus—­’

The other laid a hand upon his shoulder.

‘Marcian, no word of this to Aurelia, I charge
you!’

’I have no desire to talk about it, be assured.
But it is time that we understood each other.
Be plain with me. If you wed Veranilda how do
you purpose to secure your safety? Not, I imagine,
by prostrating yourself before Bessas. Where
will you be safe from pursuit?’